At the coffee shop, my buddy Erik and I were talking about land the intrinic value thereof. This woman overheard us and started chatting us up, basically apalled at the notion that private property had value. Odd though, she called herself an environmentalist. Eventually , the topic came around to political vandalism whereupon I said "If I catch someone vandalizing my yard, they better hope I call the police. Otherwise they're going to ride the Midnight Express." At which point she called me a redneck. I responded by breaking into "Simple Man" Superdave might be the only one who heard that song when it first came on the radio.
According to the left, EVERYONE who disagrees with them is either a "redneck" or a "facist" or a "bigot" or a "hater" or a "homophobe". Of course, they've developed their own shorthand for this now, and simply use the word "Republican". All of this prevents the necessity for them to actually think. Simply name-call and then move along.
Not one if 10,000 lefties have the slightest clue what "neocon" refers to. The other day I read some insipid "journalist" wanking on about some historical thing or other that she clearly didn't understand at all ( a lack of historical knowledge, rather than just prejudice, is a prerequisite for being a liberal) and she made reference to the "neoconservatives who opposed Roosevelt's New Deal" She likely considers herself quite the bright little thing. Herewith, a shorthand definition to help liberal: "Con" for Conservative "Neo" for Jew
Ann Coulter had a good observation, I think in regard to the liberals who were surprised and shocked at North Korea's violation of the wonderful Carter-Clinton accord: "When history begins anew every morning, shocking surprises lurk around every corner" Her works are filled with little gems like that
Bill, you stole that anti-Semitism accusation from David Brooks. Yeah, aLOT of lefties use it to mean extremely conservative. But me, I really have ZERO idea what Paul Wolfowitz thinks about affirmative action or abortion or the capital gains tax. Even ratdog/Joe Pak, Mr. Pedantic, gets it wrong. Love that song!!! Do you know who does the cover I've been hearing a bit the last few weeks?
and whoever disagrees with the right is a socialist, a Godless hippy tree hugger who's main agenda is to discredit christianity, or at least make everybody pray to the pope and corrupt the fundamental apple -pie- norman rockwell -saturday -evening -post -preception of america. Republican doctrine in a simplified form is that the rich through tax cuts and the like will take the money, and because of self interest expand business, makeing more jobs, so they can make more money, and invest that back, and make more jobs, etc. It's a naive approach because do you really think these people are nice? compassionate? no, why worry about things like health insurance for employees, workers comp, etc, if you can put that money your pocket. They want smaller government, less regulations, not becasue they are worried about your rights or mine, its a culture of greed. And as a moderate, I totally understand that a GIANT govt full of inefficiant programs and a culture where welfare is the way of life and beurocracy abounds is not ideal, but what really gets me is this, the right have no tolerance of anything. If it's different it must be bad, 'cause my preacher told me . I dont belive in gay maririge, abortion, i own 200 acres and am a member of the NRA, but the big barrier is not moral issues, its how a republican administration has ran this country into the ground for the past 4 years.
actually it's Jed Joe Bob Billy Roy, and i have just been clubed to death by the irony of how i was responding to a post dealing with the left's, or democrats, or liberals, or whatever's supposed habit of name calling and not thinking, and got called names. GOP member : "I can't belive the level of immaturity exhibited by these radicals. They are nothing but a bunch of poopy pants" when you stick your head in the sand you're only makeing your face dirty.
I agree with you that there is too much hyperbole in politics. John Kerry is not a socialist (though Ralph Nader is). But I think the difference is this. Liberals claim that conservatives are rich elitists, yet it seems that the ones making the "Wal-Mart" and "trailor trash" comments these days are liberals. To me, it seems that liberalism used to be about the common person, but that being a liberal has become something of an intelectual snob factor these days. PS -- You are nothing but a bunch of poopy pants!
And that is the point -- lots of people use the term "neoconservative" without a clue what it means. Technically, a neoconservative can be a conservative who was once something else. It used to mean a liberal who in the late 1960s supported Nixon over the Cold War, crime or who felt that the Great Society programs were more harmful than helpful. Daniel Moynahan is the best example of that. In the late 1970s, early 1980s, it meant a person who was liberal on social issues but who was anti-Communist. Many of these folks had in their younger years been socialists, even Trotskyites. In the 1970s, most of these folks were found in an organization called "Social Democrats, USA" which had broken from the Socialist Party over a variety of internal and external pressures. SDUSA was not so much a political party but an intellectual pressure group. It tended to be very pro-union, but very anti Soviet. And members worked with both parties. Zbigniew Brzezinski is one example of this version of neocon (though I am not sure he was ever a SDUSA member). Jeane Kilpatrick, who was a SDUSA member is another. The term then fell out of favor. In the 1990s, it was sometimes used to distinguish between the Buchananite "paleoconservatives" and anti-isolationist conservatives. Today though, it gets thrown around without anyone having a clue what it means.
Could you at least try to be concise? Like try re-reading your stream of microthoughts in your post and boil it down a little? FYI my post referenced an old Monthy Python "election day" sketch.
Man, I had never heard of the SDUSA until now. The SDS (students for a democratic society) ok, but not the SDUSA. And the late 70's was the first time I'd heard the term 'neoconservative' - ex-democrats who were fed up with their defeatist attitutde in the cold war.
I think if you're gonna talk about neoconservatives, you've got to mention Scoop Jackson. Can no-one tell me who covered "Simple Man"?
Did Jackson leave the Democrats? Back in his day, he was just an anti-communist Democrat. I don't remember anyone using the term for Jackson, or any other anti-commie Democrats back in those days of the 60's/early 70's. They used it for people like Kirkpatrick who left the Democrats and joined the Reagan revolution.
Scoop Jackson was usually refered to as a "Scoop Jackson Democrat." In 1960, they would have been the majority of the Democratic Party (JFK basically got elected on the grounds that Eisenhower and Nixon were not anti-communist enough). Carter was elected essentially as a Scoop Jackson Democrat. Brezinski could be considered a "neocon" as, though he remained in the Democratic Party, he was anti-communist to an extent no longer fashionable in the Party at the time. As I said, I am not sure if he ever was a member of SDUSA, but on grounds other than the Soviet threat, he is fairly liberal.
SDUSA grew out of a split in the Socialist Party. When there are philisophical differences in the GOP or Democrats, they work them out internally. Those parties exist to get elected. But the Socialists and variety of Left (and Right) fringe parties do not exist to get elected. They exist either as vehicles to develop a philisophical agenda, or as a dating service for like minded radicals. So when there are differences that develop, they tend to stalk off and form a new party. As for SDUSA, they are fairly hawkish. They supported Bush on Iraq, but if you look at their website, you will see a lot of discussion about strengthening unions. SDUSA actually has been fairly influential, even though I believe they have never run a single candidate for office.
Then there were the pro-communist Democrats - the Henry Wallace Democrats. I was at FDR's estate a year ago, and there was a big sign saying that they were building a Henry Wallace center there. What an abomination. As Ann Coulter said of Owen Lattimore, "If he wasn't a paid agent of the Soviet Union, he was getting gypped" We're very fortunate that they ditched Wallace and put in Truman before FDR died.
Dave, I haven't heard the cover. A google search tuined up nothing. It's nice to know that, despite our political differences, some good ol' country music still unites us. Sachin
Uh oh. I think I'm gonna have to interrupt this music-inspired lovefest. I thought we were talking about the Skynyrd song. Is there a country song y'all are referring to?
The remake you've heard is by "Shine Down" Mama told me, when I was young Come sit beside me, my only son And listen closely, to what I say. And if you do this It will help you some sunny day. Ohh take your time... Don't live too fast, Troubles will come, and they will pass. Go find a woman and you'll find love, And don't forget son, There is someone up above. (Chorus) And be a simple kind of man. Oh be somethin you'll love and understand. Baby be a simple kind of man. Won't you do this for me son, If you can? Forget your lust for the rich man's gold All that you need is in your soul, And you can do this if you try. All that I want for you my son, Is to be satisfied. (Chorus) Boy, don't you worry... you'll find yourself. Follow you heart and nothing else. And you can do this if you try. All I want for you my son, Is to be satisfied.